Switch assembly



March 30, 1948. E. L. LEES SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed June 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 30, 1948. E. L. LEES SWITCH ASSEMBLY Fi'k'ed June 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALX EDGAR L. LEES iww 7? (him/mu;

Patented Mar. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH ASSEMBLY Edgar L. Lees, Youngstown, Ohio Application June 19, 1946, Serial No. 677,657

(Cl. ZOO-35) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the general art of electric circuit makers and breakers and more particularly to a simplified unitary assembly which may readily be associated in an operative manner with an alarm clock or other actuated means whereby an electric circuit may be opened, or closed, in an automatic manner as desired.

Circuit makers and breakers of the above general character have found wide application for use in turning on or off various appliances such as radios, lighting fixtures etc., at a predetermined time or in response to operation of an actuator as will be understood. It is the primary object Of the present invention to provide a switching device which is exceedingly simple in design and economical to construct but which is nevertheless rugged and durable and entirely safe in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simply constructed portable electrical connector embodying a simplified switch structure which is operative, upon actuation, to open or to control an electric supply circuit passing through the connector.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved electric terminal connector having current input conductors and a plurality of outlets of the quick detachable type for cooperation with conventional line cord plugs, together with a simplified switching arrangement whereby certain of the output circuits are opened While at least another output circuit is simultaneously closed upon actuation of the switch operator.

The above and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figures 1 and 2 are rear and side elevations, respectively, of a switching and connecting device constructed according to the pr nc pl o h invention, the View showing a possible operative association of the device with a conventional alarm clock;

Figures 3 and 4 are end and front elevations, respectively, of the insulating housing of the device of the invention;

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along the lines VV and VI-VI of Figures 4 and 3, respectively;

Figures 7 and 8 are plan and side views, respectively, of a modified form of switching and connecting device; and

Figures 9 and 10 are front and sectional views respectively, of the device of Figures '7 and 8.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device of the invention whe associated with the conventional alarm clock (shown in dotted outline at IU) may be mounted on a suitable base I l which may, in turn, have suitable means for also supporting and retaining the body or housing of the clock. In the embodiment of the device of Figures 1 thru 6 there is provided a housing which is preferably molded of suitable electrical insulating material having adequate mechanical strength as rubber or a resinous plasti or example and, as shown, this housing may consist of a plate-like bottom piece l2 and a multiple recessed upper member I3.

Rigidly secured in recesses formed in member 13 is a pair of electrically conductive spring contacts I4 and I5 suitably spaced and oriented to cooperate with the pair of prongs of a conventional line cord plug 16. It should be observed that the housing member I3 is provided with suitable slots to enable the prongs of plug IE to enter the body of member l3 to frictionally engage the spring contacts i4 and I5. In the illustrated embodiment a second pair of spring contacts l1 and i8 is rigidly secured in recesses in the body member I3 for cooperation with the prongs of a second cord connecting plug, not shown. Positioned between the two pairs of sprin contacts mentioned above is a switch arm l9 rotatably mounted on a screw 20, the head of which retains the arm in assembled relation. By referring to Figure 6 it will be noted that spring contact I5 is formed with an integral lug 2| adapted to be engaged by a lug 22 formed integrally with the arm 19. Another pair of lug contacts 23 and 24 are formed integrally o the contact I! and arm l9, respectively, and these last named lugs are arranged to have normal pressure contact With each other by means of a spring 25 which normally biases the arm I 9 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5. Lugs 23 and 24 may, however, be separated by insertion of an insulating bar 26 through an aperture formed in the top wall of the housing member l3. To facilitate entry of the separating bar 26 into the body of the switch and between the lugs 23 and 24 the entering end of the bar is eased or tapered as is also the top edge of the aperture formed in member l3, Similarly the upper edges of the lugs 23 and 24 are bent or curved outwardly as shown in Figure 6. Upon insertion of bar 26 and bottoming of the same on member l2 the switch arm I!) will be moved in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure to bring the lug 22 into pressure engagement with the lug 2| of the contact l5.

An end wall of member I3 is provided with an aperture 21 to receive a cord enclosing line conductors 28 and 29. Shown in Figure 1 these conductors may be connected in any suitable manner with a current source and by referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that the conductor 23 is electrically connected to the switch arm 19 While the conductor 29 is electrically connected to both the spring contacts I l and It. Now it should be apparent that upon insertion of the bar 26 in the manner described above the contacts l4 and I5 will be electrically connected with the currentsource while the contacts H and He will be open-circuited with respect to the source. Thus, an appliance connected to contacts l4, l5 will be operative while an appliance connected to contacts i'l, I8 will be held inoperative. If the bar 25 is now retracted the circuit fed from contacts 54, I5 will be opened while the circuit fed from contacts ll, l8 will be closed.

In accordance with usual practice the various contacts and conductors may be assembled in the housing member l3 after which the bottom member i2 is applied and secured to member l3 to close the body of the assembly as will be understood. Bar 26 is preferably apertured at its outer end to receive an operating cord 39 which may be connected to the alarm wind key 3| as shown in Figures 1 and 2 whereby the bar 26 may be withdrawn or retracted at a predetermined time upon actuation of the alarm in the clock, it being understood that the wind key 3| will commence to rotate in a direction opposite to its winding direction upon release of the alarm train in the clock.

The embodiment of Figures 7 thru is generally similar to the form first described but differs therefrom in general arrangement and in the use of a switch contact having an inherently flexible arm operative upon retraction of the insulating separator bar to move into pressure engagement with a spring contact positioned in a circuit which is to be turned on upon removal of the bar. In this modification there is again provided a housing having a plate-like bottom member 3! and a recessed upper housing member 32 arranged to be rigidly connected together upon final assembly of the apparatus. Mounted in re- .cesses in the member 32 is a pair of spring contacts 33 and 34 forming one circuit outlet and a second pair of spring contacts 35 and 36 forming the second circuit outlet. As in the embodiment first described each of these circuit outlets may be engaged by conventional cord connecting lug. Contact 33 has an integral switch contact lug 3i and contact 35 has a similar integral switch contact lug 33.. Arranged to contact lugs 31 and 38 alternately is a contact 39 carried by the outer end of a flexible spring arm 56. Arm Ml normally biases contact 39 into pressure engagement with lug 31 while upon insertion of the insulating separator bar 26 through the aperture formed in the top wall of member 32 and between the contacts 31 and 39 the contact 39 will be moved into pressure engagement with the contact lug 38. One of the current supply conductors, as 4! is electrically connected to spring contacts 34 and 36 while the other of the supply conductors 42 is electrically connected to the arm 40. By reason of this arrangement one of the outlet circuits is opened while the other is closed upon retraction of operator 26 and the converse occurs upon insertion of the operator as will be understood.

It should now be apparent that I have provided an improved and simplified electric circuit making and breaking apparatus which accomplishes the objects initially set out. The apparatus is exceedingly simple in design and most economical to construct and is readily adaptable for a wide variety of uses in association with time controlled or other operating means, including manual means. Further, the incorporation in the switching assembly of conventional outlet receptacles further enhances the usefulness of the complete structure. The above specifically described embodiments of the invention, however, should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A switch mechanism comprising in combination an insulating housing, a pair of electrically conductive spring contacts secured in said housing and adapted to be engaged. by the prongs of a conventional line cord plug, a movable switch arm in said housing and normally biased to predetermined position with respect to one of said spring contacts, a switch contact on said arm adapted to move into and out of engagement with said one of said spring contacts upon movement of said arm, an aperture in one wall of said housing, and a retractible insulating bar slideably received in said aperture and operative when fully inserted in said aperture to retain said arm away from its normally biased position.

2. A switch mechanism comprising in combination an insulating housing, two pairs of electrically conductive spring contacts secured in said housing and adapted to be engaged by the prongs of a pair of conventional line cord plugs,

a movable switch arm in said housing and normally biased to predetermined position with respect to one of each of said pairs of spring contacts, a switch contact on said arm adapted to have alternate engagement with said one of each of said pairs of spring contacts, and retractible means engaging said arm to retain said arm away from its normally biased position whereby upon retraction of said means a circuit including one of said pairs of spring contacts is opened while a second circuit including the other of said pairs of spring contacts is closed.

3. A-sWitch mechanism comprisin in combination an insulating housing member having a top wall and side and end walls, a pair of spring contacts secured in depending relation to said top wall and adapted to be engaged by the prongs of a conventional line cord plug, a movable switch arm also suspended from said top wall and normally biased to predetermined position with respect to one of said spring conwhen fully inserted in said aperture to retain said arm away from its normally biased position.

EDGAR L. LEES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,951,297 Von Normann Mar. 13, 1934 2,039,191 Simon Apr. 28, 1936 

